The Random Knitter, Crocheter, Spinner etc

Finished Socks

2008-10-24T13:39:00.003+01:00

These are the Big Basin Socks and Naive Socks.

More Shawls

2008-10-24T13:27:00.005+01:00

Here are some more photos of shawls finished, in order Mystery Stole 3 done in ColourMart Merino 2/28, pale pink, Mystic Light in Araucania Ranco Solid, Mystic Meadows in

Rowan Rowanspun DK, Ivy Leaf Shawl in Jaeger Matchmaker Merino 4 Ply and finally Dem Fischer sin Fru in Handpaintedyarn.com Merino Lace:

Secret of the Stole iii:

Mystic Light:

Mystic Meadows:

Ivy Leaf Shawl:

Dem Fischer sin Fru:

Shawls

2008-06-20T10:05:00.002+01:00

I love making shawls at the moment, I belong to so many KALs I sometimes wonder how I will finish them all.

Here are some things finished recently:

2008-04-18T09:24:00.003+01:00

Another hat Trinity by Wooly Wormhead, guess who has her new book Going Straight http://woollywormhead.com/page43.htm

I have also made the Big Basin Socks:

and Fetching Gloves:

I have so far got two hats and a pair of fingerless gloves out of 200gms of Marble DK with 50 gms left.

2008-04-18T09:14:00.005+01:00

I have been so caught up in so many KALs I am afraid my blogging has lost out, here are some of my recent projects:

Secret of the Stole II - Savannah, done in Handpainted Yarn

Marvelous Mittens 3 pairs!!, I was only going to make two pairs but I made two left hands, so rather than frog them out I made two more right hands.

Various hats for my daughter: Tete a Fetching and Strawberry Joe (wooly wormhead)

Progress of Mystic Waters Shawl

2007-11-28T10:11:00.000Z

I am half way through clue 3, now I have finished SoTS I am hoping to catch up.

Finished Fingerless Gloves and Socks

2007-11-28T10:07:00.000Z

I have finished some fingerless gloves for my daughter from the Yarn Forward magazine, and a pair of socks for my husband which I designed myself.

Finished The Secret of the Stole

2007-11-28T10:04:00.000Z

Here is a finished picture of my stole, it is beautiful, it turned 14" x 76".

Here is a close up of some of the detail.

Clue 4 of the mystery Stole

2007-11-02T09:09:00.000Z

I finally finished clue 4 of the mystery stole, soory about the picture but my daughter wanted to take the camera to school today, and announced it two minutes before she left.

Clue 2 on Secret of the Stole

2007-10-19T14:25:00.001+01:00

I have finished clue 2 on the Secret of the Stole, here it is in all its glory, I am using ColourMart Angora/Lambswool 2/28NM Lace Weight 2 strands.

I think the theme is either celestial or egyptian, the first designs look like scarabs to me.

Four new KALs started

2007-10-18T16:54:00.000+01:00

I have joined four KALs,

Secret of the Stole

Secret of Chrysopolis

Mystic Water

Halloween Shawl

I have started the first two, see pictures:

I need to wait until the 24th for the Mystic Waters to start, and I want to use the rest of the yarn from the Secret of the Stole for the Halloween Shawl.

Basket Weave Socks

2007-09-14T15:55:00.000+01:00

This is my latest sock, knitted for a friend's daughter. It is based on Basketweave by Marguerite Byrne, http://stitchesofviolet.blogspot.com/

Offset Rib Socks

2007-09-10T16:54:00.000+01:00

Here is my latest socks for my husband which was made in Regia Bamboo, lovely greys and white.
I designed the pattern myself.

Forest Canopy Shawl

2007-08-22T12:04:00.000+01:00

I have finished my Forest Canopy Shawl in Angora/Nylon from Fyberspates, it still needs to be blocked.

Zig Zag Ribbon Socks

2007-07-27T09:28:00.000+01:00

Here are my latest socks for my husband, they are done in Colinette Jitterbug, colour dusk. I have designed the pattern using the Zig Zag Ribbon from Barbara Walker, they were done toe up on 2.25mm needles.

2007-07-11T14:33:00.000+01:00

I finished another pair of Jeanie Townsend Socks - Cascading Leaves in yarn from The Natural Dye Studio (http://www.thenaturaldyestudio.com/), Tiger's Eye.

Woolfest

2007-07-10T18:56:00.000+01:00

I did make it to Woolfest on the Friday, despite the weather it helped that I was in Lytham St Anne's Monday - Thursday, so was over half way there. It would have a shame to have come home instead of continuing up the M6. I was reasonably restrained, but here is some photos of my goodies:

Roving from the Yarn Yard at http://theyarnyard.co.uk together with a Bosworth spindle:

Of course more sock yarn from the Yarn Yard:

I also picked up a skein of Jitterbug, very pretty and similar in construction to Socks that Rock:

I also got some baby alpaca roving:

And the most gorgeous organic wool in Aran weight from Uppingham Yarns:

Sunshine Lilac Socks

2007-06-22T08:36:00.001+01:00

I have finally finished my 'Lilac' Socks pattern by Jeanie Townsend, I used the colour Sunflower by the Natural Dye Studio. These have taken me a month despite having a few days holiday where I could knit.

Baudelaire Socks

2007-05-30T16:37:00.000+01:00

These are my latest socks Baudelaire by Cookie A from http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer06/PATTbaudelaire.html I changed the heel to use a toe up flap and the cast off to use a stretchy cast off. The wool is from the http://www.thenaturaldyestudio.com/ in colour Helitrope. They took so long because I cast on three more socks, a scarf and a crochet afghan none of which are finished!

Stalking Lime n Violet

2007-05-21T12:16:00.000+01:00

I love listening to pod casts, Lime n Violet being one of my favourites together with Cast On from Brenda Dayne. There is now a blog called Stalking Lime n Violet which I have now joined.
See further down on the left other Podcasts I subscribe to.

2007-05-18T11:03:00.000+01:00

Here is an interesting Knitting Meme:

Mark with bold the things you have done, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest plain.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with bananafiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffitti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies...)
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone elses handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
RugKnitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

This has certainly been thought provoking about what I should knit next, it has also reminded about favourite old projects:

An Aran Jumper for a friend in Dale of Norway, Freestyle - one of the nicest wools I have ever knitted with, the pattern came out very crisp:

This is some aran wool that I hand dyed using plants and knit using a Kaffe Fasset pattern. I know I used indigo for the blue, madder for the red, fustic for the yellow, I also experimented with flowering currant which gave a pale green and willow which gave a greeny brown and onion skins. My husband calls it his curry jumper because stains do not show! and it is brightly coloured. The jumper must be at least 15 years old.

Smoking Hot Socks

2007-05-11T11:17:00.000+01:00

I finally finished these socks which I started in February, I have always wanted to do toe up socks but hate the short row heel on my feet. This pattern used a jojo heel but I still hated it so I ripped it out and put the socks to one side. I finally did a toes up flap heel mentioned in the Winter 2006 Yarn Forward magazine http://yarnforwardmagazine.co.uk/ in the Wisteria Sock, I would make the flap longer another time, but at least they fit comfortably. The pattern is by Monika Steinbauer at http://yarnloopie.blogspot.com/ (look down the right hand bar to download). By the way I used Treking XXL colour #104.

Spring Green Leaves Finished Socks

2007-05-02T08:36:00.000+01:00

I finally finshed my latest pair Jean Townsend Socks, they are beautiful as usual.

This is a closeup of the design on the front

Spring Green Leaves

2007-04-25T15:10:00.000+01:00

This is another test knit for Jeanie Townsend using my Yarn Yard March 2007 Sock club yarn

Charity Knitting

2007-04-18T15:25:00.000+01:00

I volunteered to do some knitting for a theatre production in Northampton called Knitwits and this is my creations:

3 red hats

1 blue dog man
1 red dog man

I also knitted the Lilac Sock by Jeanie Townsend, which is absolutely beautiful:

Unfortunately I had the ball in my knitting bag and I didn't notice it running out, and as I only have two balls there is nowhere near enough. When I checked there was only 280 yds altogether, I have ordered some more yellow from the www.thenaturaldyestudio.com in a sock weight this time and so need to start again. But this is so pretty I don't want to frog it yet.

Latest Sock

2007-03-20T12:54:00.000Z

This my latest sock, the pattern is a test knit I did for Jean Townsend, a very effective pattern. I used BFL from Twin Earth dyed in purple and blues. The weight is DK. The other one should be finished by tomorrow.

More fun Than Cables Socks

2007-02-21T11:55:00.000Z

This is the first of my 'more fun than cables' socks, it is made using Yarn Yard Blackberry Swoop that my sister gave me for my birthday. The pattern is at:

http://stitchesofviolet.blogspot.com/2005/08/more-fun-than-cables-sock-pattern.html

I have also finished my first Socks that Rock in Rocktober Medium weight yarn, I can see why everyone gets so excited by this yarn, it is tightly spun and feels lovely as a sock. Standard sock pattern with twisted rib at top and eye of partridge heel.

I have blocked the mohair shawl for my daughter today, so it is now drying for her 18th birthday party on Friday. This was taken from:

http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/donisfuff/croshawl.html

I made myself some fingerless gloves/armwarmers with some Alpaca/Merino DK colourway Ice from: http://www.thenaturaldyestudio.com/ Cameras are a wonderful thing both these photos are of the gloves!!

I had some wool left over so I made a pair of armwarmers, not sure who for yet.

I also finally got a picture of my daughters finished argylle kitty socks.

Zig Zag Socks

2007-02-06T08:14:00.000Z

My Zig Zag socks are finally finished from http://cavyshops.com/zigzagsocks.html, they are too tight across the ankle so my daughter will have them. These were done as part of the Socknitters SAM.

January's Yarn Yard Sock Club

2007-02-02T16:15:00.000Z

Finished the Monkey socks at last,I did all the decreases in the gussett in the end, looks much prettier.

Samantha's Socks

2007-01-19T18:07:00.000Z

Here are a pair of Sock's I created for my neice, they knitted up very quick as they only had 24 stitches around on 4mm needles. I used a yarn called Palette Series 034/219, each sock weighs about 30grms and should fit a childs size 11 shoe.

The yarn is 51% wool 49% acrylic, each ball contains approx 60m.

Friday 19th January 2007

2007-01-19T15:13:00.000Z

Another photo from Xmas Knitting, my daughters leg warmers in Sweet Violet from The Natural Dye Studio, they do reach from her knees to her ankles, but she likes to 'slouch' them.

Friday 12th January 2007

2007-01-12T11:34:00.000Z

These are my latest socks, they are Monkey by Cookie from www.knitty.com I am using the January 2007 Sock Club wool from the Yarn Yard. I have ripped back the last inch where I tried to decrease for the ankle and the pattern changed too severely.

Wednesday 3rd January 2007

2007-01-03T11:22:00.000Z

I finally finished some of my Xmas knitting, my daughters socks in Rose Mist by the Natural Dye Studio at www.thenaturaldyestudio.com using a smock pattern

My husbands socks in Bushcraft, the Charity yarn from November 2006 at www.yarnyard.co.uk using the stitch from Thuja in http://www.knitty.com/ .

Tuesday 19th December 2006

2006-12-19T09:51:00.000Z

My latest pair of socks, these are in colour called Pink Dash by the Yarn Yard, they look more similar than the picture gives the impression. They are very comfortable but a little large, I really must try and make my socks fit better.

Thursday 7th December 2006

2006-12-07T16:06:00.000Z

This is adapted from a pirate argylle sock I saw, with a skull but I decided that as my daughter loves this motif I would adapt it onto her socks for Christmas. The original can be found at: http://scrubberbum.typepad.com/moth_heaven/2006/07/this_might_be_a.html

These are the rest of the scarves I have made for Christmas.

Tuesday 21st November 2006

2006-11-21T14:03:00.000Z

Here is a scarf I have knit for a friend, it is in Patons Whisper Lurex on 6mm needles.

Thursday 16th November 2006

2006-11-16T16:12:00.000Z

These are my Yoga socks made from some handspun wool I found in my stash, the dark brown is Jacobs not sure what the light brown is, but it is very soft.

These are a picture of Yoga socks lying down, they have no heel or toes to allow easy gripping of the mat during Yoga. They are from the following pattern:

http://cast-adrift2.blogspot.com/2006/01/yoga-socks-pattern.html

I have finally finished the snowdrop shawl, and blocked it. I am very pleased with the results. I never thought I would make a lace shawl, but this one caught my imagination and was really quiet easy to do. I got the pattern from:

http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/images/Snowdrop_Shawl_v1.0.pdf

I have made these fingerless gloves for my daughter Xmas, they are slightly tight on me so should fit her fine. The wool is a alpaca/merino mix from the Natural Dye Studio (ebay).

Wednesday 8th November 2006

2006-11-08T10:46:00.000Z

My latest work in progress is a pair of crochet socks from the crochetsocks yahoo group. I alternatively love and hate this yarn as it has white and dark patches that make it look dirty, but the colours are very subtle.

Friday 27th October 2006

2006-10-27T10:09:00.000+01:00

More distractions, I made a set of these dorset buttons to go onto the baby jacket I made. I have now finished the trousers to go with the set.

Tuesday 24th October 2006

2006-10-24T15:58:00.000+01:00

I have been distracted knitting these Xmas Cards in Shadow Knitting, I used some glittery thread I bought a few years ago from the market and did not use. They look like squares of stripy colours, until you turn them sideways.

Then magically the pattern appears, I have mounted them on Silver Card, with silver envelopes.

Saturday 21st October 2006

2006-10-21T19:35:00.000+01:00

These are the mystery socks finally finshed, they are in a dark grey wool/bamboo mix from Opal, very comfortable to wear.

Friday 13th October 2006

2006-10-13T09:12:00.000+01:00

I went away at the weekend so I needed something simple to knit, so I started a standard sock in a lovely hand dyed yarn called pink dash. Again the colours are more purple in real life.

I am still waiting for the next installement of mystery socks, so I can get them finished. I have started my second jaywalker and started the gusset on my Old Shale Socks.

Friday 6th October 2006

2006-10-06T10:13:00.000+01:00

Some more photos for you, the first of my Jaywalker Socks, the second has been put on hold until I have finished the SocknittersSAM.

I have reached the heel for the mystery socks for the SocknittersSAM, just waiting for the rest of the instructions. I have found getting the instruction piece by piece has made knitting these socks very quick.

I have also made progress on my Old Shale Socks, the alternative to the mystery sock, I just could not resist starting another pair, what is it about socks!

Some of the Podcasts I subscribe to:

Knitwit: Rantings of a Rabid Knitter @ http://autumnbreezedesigns.com/blog

5th October 2006

2006-10-05T13:20:00.000+01:00

I have been making good progress with my socks having joined the group SocknittersSAM. The mystery socks are being made in an Opal with bamboo which is dark charcoal grey and the Old Shale Socks are being made in some Opal Uni in Pink with some wool I picked up at the Woolfest in June.

Thursday 27th September 2006

2006-09-27T17:45:00.000+01:00

Another picture for you, not sure about the colour on these 'gloves they are actually black and purple. They are based loosely on idea from http://vickiehowell.com/2006/08/purple-skein-augusts-free-pattern.html, except I have used DK wool and added a thumb.

Sunday 24th September 2006

2006-09-24T13:29:00.000+01:00

Hi,

Couple more photos to share with you, the first is the baby cardigan (still no buttons) and matching mittens:

6th September 2006

2006-09-06T11:32:00.000+01:00

I finished the baby socks yesterday, they are so cute. I used a pattern from http://www.suzisknits.com/babysock.html and some left over Opal yarn from a pair of Jaywalkers.

I also finished the hat to go with the baby cardigan, I will publish a picture when I have found some buttons.

4th September 2006

2006-09-04T10:18:00.000+01:00

Hi,
On an impulse I thought I would set up a blog to keep track of all my projects. currently in progress and those forgotton about. I really enjoy reading about other people's projects, even items I would not normally consider knitting myself are more interesting when someone raves about them.

Currently being worked on is a baby cardigan for a friends baby and a pair of baby socks.